The measurement refers to the stamps height, not width, and I believe 1 1/4" is correct. Without a picture it would be difficult to tell you if its a '50s or '70s model.

Thanks BosLover! I went by an older friends house today who has lots of vintage drums and cymbals (I actually gave him a lesson on the period of some of his cymbals) and found a 19.5" cymbal with a 50s stamp and you are right. I put a ruler on the stamp and it is 1.25" in height and 1" wide, but a 70s stamp has the same dimensions.

I went ahead and bought the cymbal after several e-mails back and forth with the seller. He provided more pictures, but they weren't clear enough to really make out the stamp. He spoke accurately of 40s and 60s stamps, so I'm pretty convinced that he knows what he's talking about. But, he never answered the question of whether the lines of the letters in "ZILDJIAN CO" were wider than the lines of the rest of the words. I just couldn't believe he was selling a late 50s/early 60s Zildjian - the last of the hand hammered American Zildjians - for the price he was asking. Anyway, I talked him into accepting a return if I'm still not convinced it's a late 50s/early 60s when I get it. I'll probably receive it next Monday, so I'll know then and update this thread, and post pictures if it is a 50s. ;)

The real key is how it sounds. There is no guaranty that just because a cymbal is from the '50s that it will sound great or will be the sound you're looking for. We (my son and I) have at least a half dozen rides from that period, and they're all good but we don't play more than three of them. The others sit and get dusty, We revisit them now and again but then they always go back into storage,

You're exactly right! Yes Sir I told the guy that even if it is a 70s cymbal, I'd see if I liked the way it sounds before I just sent it back because it wasn't a 50s. I must admit, for many years I was a bit of a cymbal snob (I thought I wasn't cool if I didn't have shiny, brilliant finish Zildjians). But, I've gotten over it and now I buy and play whatever sounds good to my ear. I still prefer Zildjians, but I really don't care whose name is on it or how it looks anymore. Nowadays, I think the older, well-used ones look cooler. ;)

Update: The cymbal came in yesterday. I'm out of town with the praise & worship band I play with for a weekend youth event, so my wife sent pics. It's a 70s stamp. I'm anxious to get home and try it out. I hope it sounds like angels singing. I'd hate to send it back to the seller because he was such a nice guy and very helpful. But, I though I was buying a late 50s/early 60s cymbal. I'm a little bummed, but hopeful that it sounds amazing. I'll update again tomorrow with my sonic assessment.

Are you sure about that? Can you upload the pics your wife sent you?

Just reread this part of your post. First, what make your feel that 50s/60s A Zildjians are hand hammered? In the '60s none were to my knowledge, and in the '50s I believe only some of those from the early part of the decade had any hand hammering. My memory could be faulty, so maybe Drumaholic wlll chime in on this. Second, most 50s/60s As are not that rare or all that expensive. What did he charge you?

I'm on my stupid smartphone, so I can't upload pics. It does not have an ink logo, which could have been removed. "ZILDJIAN Co" in the stamp are the thin letters, so I say 70s.

I read somewhere, a website I believe, that Zildjian stopped hand hammering in the early 60s. I can't remember where I saw that though. Of course, that could be bad info. I wasn't around then, so I don't know firsthand. I'm always open to a lesson, so anybody that knows about that is welcome to join the thread.

I paid $135 + $12 shipping. Probably a little much, but he said it's 1465 grams with a low-pitched, mellow crash. That's what sound I typically like, better if it's a little trashy, so I figured it would be worth the gamble. He said he'd refund my money if I don't like it, but id have to pay to ship it to me and back to him, probably $20 total. I'd rather be out $20 than pay $147 and be stuck with something I don't like. If it sounds like he described, I will like it though.